Dear Mount Calvary Lutheran Church,
Our sermon series during the Easter season is “Resurrection Power.” This series aims to connect the dots from heaven to earth, creation to eternity, death to life. Easter is not just one day out of the year, it is a way of life. Easter is not just another holiday, it is the day 1 for a new world, a world without death.
One of the most common questions (one of the biggest dots to be connected) I get as a pastor is, “what happens to us when we die?” As Christians, we believe in heaven, but what do we mean by heaven? What do we do with popular images of pearly gates, St. Peter, and a partly-cloudy, 75 degree paradise? Additionally, it can feel like heaven's so far away. Heaven is a prize at the end of life detached from our needs here and now.
The Bible teaches that we are made soul and body. God formed human beings from the dust of the earth and breathed life into them. We are material and the very whispers of God Himself. When we die, our bodies remain here. You may have decided to be buried or cremated. Regardless, what was your body will decay. Our souls though so to be with God in heaven. Think of Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross, “today you will be with me in paradise.” Additionally, there are several places in Revelation where the souls of His people cry out to God in His presence and throne room. The New Testament describes this state as, “sleep,” “peace,” “rest.” This will be a great time, however, it isn’t the end of the story.
When Jesus returns (Matthew 25:31-46), he will judge those who are alive and those who have died. Souls will be reunited with bodies as bodies are raised from the dead. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “behold I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” Death is not the end. Heaven, our soul being at rest with God, isn’t even the end. Our souls and bodies belong together. Jesus will raise our bodies to be like His post-Easter body. Then, after the judgement, He will make a new heavens and a new earth, a perfect world to live in much like this one only without sin and evil and its effects including death. That is a place a lot better than one only defined by white gates and harps. This hope isn’t just for the future and it isn’t merely a better alternative to a bad possibility. This hope has the potential to change how you face each and every day.
What happens when we die? In short, alot. Medical death is just a step on the way in our ongoing life with God. God– the one who loves us, created us, redeemed us, and wants to live with us face-to-face forever.